USPS major cuts

[Red Arrow]

I believe that USPS outsources the shipping of larger items to FedEx.

I have heard that they outsource too.  I don't remember if it's UPS or FedEx or both.

[we vs us]

I believe that USPS outsources the shipping of larger items to FedEx.

Fed Ex uses USPS for rural deliveries and deliveries to otherwise isolated locales.

http://www.fedex.com/us/smart-post/outbound.html

USPS uses Fed Ex flights to transport larger packages overseas.

http://news.van.fedex.com/node/14453

Also, via wikipedia: 

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, FedEx Corp is the 21st largest campaign contributor in the United States. The company has donated over $21 million since 1990, 45% of which went to Democrats and 55% to Republicans. Strong ties to the White House and members of Congress allow access to international trade and tax cut rebates as well as the rules of the business practices of the United States Postal Service. In 2001, FedEx sealed a $9 billion deal with the USPS to transport all of the post office's overnight and express deliveries.[18]

In 2005, FedEx was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to sponsor the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.[19][20][21]

During the first three months of 2010, FedEx spent nearly $4.9 million lobbying the federal government (UPS, FedEx's main competitor, spent $1.6 million on lobbying over the same period), a 4% increase from the $4.7 million spent during the last quarter of 2009, but more than twice what it spent on lobbying during the first quarter of 2009.[22]

[Conan71]

USPS is actually OK for somewhat bigger stuff.  I send some things to my brother at an APO.

They have odd nuances.  For APO addresses, FAIK, USPS is the best, if not, only way to go.  They don't charge a dimensional weight on foreign shipments though they do have a maximum dimension you can ship Priority overseas (I think it's length + width + girth cannot exceed 108").  They do charge dimensional weight on domestic shipments over certain sizes, just like UPS.  Not sure if FedX Ground has a dim weight rule as I never use them for ground shipping.

[RecycleMichael]

If FedEx and UPS merge, would they be called FedUp?

[nathanm]

And none of this essential service reduction would be necessary if USPS was treated like every other private company in the US. Instead, they're subsidizing FERS to the tune of billions of dollars a year and still get (politically) attacked from all sides. It was nice of Congress to think ahead for once. Unfortunately, they forgot that thinking ahead does not mean "don't ever think about this again."

It ain't the unions that are blowing up the Post Office, it's Congress.

[Conan71]

And none of this essential service reduction would be necessary if USPS was treated like every other private company in the US. Instead, they're subsidizing FERS to the tune of billions of dollars a year and still get (politically) attacked from all sides. It was nice of Congress to think ahead for once. Unfortunately, they forgot that thinking ahead does not mean "don't ever think about this again."

It ain't the unions that are blowing up the Post Office, it's Congress generous pension plans the private sector only dreams about.

FIFY.

(Like you knew I couldn't resist)

[nathanm]

That some people have gotten screwed out of promised pay is not a reason to screw other people. As I said, the problem isn't the pensions themselves. USPS has been forced to over fund their pension obligations by law. Even with the presently depressed mail volume, they'd be profitable if they were funding the pension plan as every other company (that has a pension plan, anyway) gets to.

Funny how money is better funneled into the CEO's pocket rather than employee retirement. Most of us find it hard to argue that somebody who has worked at a company long enough to get their pension vested is a deadbeat who doesn't deserve what they get, but the CEO who sticks around for 5 years running his pump and dump scheme deserves a golden parachute. (I'm generalizing, not speaking of USPS in particular)

[Conan71]

That some people have gotten screwed out of promised pay is not a reason to screw other people. As I said, the problem isn't the pensions themselves. USPS has been forced to over fund their pension obligations by law. Even with the presently depressed mail volume, they'd be profitable if they were funding the pension plan as every other company (that has a pension plan, anyway) gets to.

Funny how money is better funneled into the CEO's pocket rather than employee retirement. Most of us find it hard to argue that somebody who has worked at a company long enough to get their pension vested is a deadbeat who doesn't deserve what they get, but the CEO who sticks around for 5 years running his pump and dump scheme deserves a golden parachute. (I'm generalizing, not speaking of USPS in particular)

But what about the poor CEO's?  You don't want them to have to drive Chevrolets and vacation in Branson like a commoner, do you?  So mean spirited....

[nathanm]

But what about the poor CEO's?  You don't want them to have to drive Chevrolets and vacation in Branson like a commoner, do you?  So mean spirited....

I think they'll be fine with only one house in the Hamptons, one Manhattan penthouse, a single private island, and two supercars. You don't have to have 5 of everything, you know.

[Red Arrow]

I think they'll be fine with only one house in the Hamptons, one Manhattan penthouse, a single private island, and two supercars. You don't have to have 5 of everything, you know.

What?  No yacht and jet airplane?  Imagine the embarrassment.

[we vs us]

A little more on the weird pension-funding requirements that the USPS -- and only the USPS -- are subject to.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/unions-rally-to-reform-postal-service-without-cutting-jobs/

"The postmaster general is being entirely disingenuous about this," Clark said.

Instead, Clark cites 2006 legislation that requires the Postal Service to pre-fund health care benefits for future retirees as the problem. Under that law, the Postal Service must acquire funds for 75 years worth of retirees' benefits over a 10-year span.

The union wants Congress to allow the Postal Service to recalculate the amount it should pay for pensions and reallocate the excess funds paid in years past towards the future health benefits.

[Townsend]

CNBC tweet:

"The USPS Has Agreed To Delay The Closing Or Consolidation of Any Post Office Or Mail Processing Facility until May 2012."

[TheMindWillNotLetGo]

"The USPS Has Agreed To Delay The Closing Or Consolidation of Tulsa Mail Processing Facility until Feb 2013."

fixed for recency.


Your junk mail will not decrease due to this closing...it will only arrive 2-5 days later than it normally would.

You're all being horswaggled if you think that "going green" is more efficient/economical.

It costs a biller 75 cents to mail you a bill, and recieve/process your payment by mail.  Plus the 45 cent stamp you licked to send in your payement, = grand total $1.20.

If you opt to go paperless...then it costs the biller somewhere beteween $3 and $5 to send/receive/process the same bill....and that is a conservative estimate.

You think the biller is eating that cost for your convenience?  I think you already know the answer.

Why it cost more and where is the money going?  Merchant Service fees. i.e. Visa, MC, Amex, Discover.

If you haven't already noticed, most billers are charging you a "convenience fee" to go paperless.  

If they are not, then you are paying for it by other means, i.e. higher prices

This is contradictory to claims of estimation by the bodies pushing this closure that "mailers are offering 'convenience fees' to receive a paper bill"

The only mailers offering such, are the credit card companies, and Flo from Progressive.  

And can you mutherluving imagine...they are incentivizing you to move to the method of payment that will make them not $0.20 per item, but $5.00 per item?

Don't be hornswaggled.

Additionally:

Tulsa P&DC consistently ranks, nationally in the top 5 for efficiency and productivity.  While OKC consistenly ranks nationally in the bottom 5 for efficiency and productivity.

So yeh, seems like a smart move to close Tulsa and move it to OKC.

[Hoss]

fixed for recency.


Your junk mail will not decrease due to this closing...it will only arrive 2-5 days later than it normally would.

You're all being horswaggled if you think that "going green" is more efficient/economical.

It costs a biller 75 cents to mail you a bill, and recieve/process your payment by mail.  Plus the 45 cent stamp you licked to send in your payement, = grand total $1.20.

If you opt to go paperless...then it costs the biller somewhere beteween $3 and $5 to send/receive/process the same bill....and that is a conservative estimate.

You think the biller is eating that cost for your convenience?  I think you already know the answer.

Why it cost more and where is the money going?  Merchant Service fees. i.e. Visa, MC, Amex, Discover.

If you haven't already noticed, most billers are charging you a "convenience fee" to go paperless.  

If they are not, then you are paying for it by other means, i.e. higher prices

This is contradictory to claims of estimation by the bodies pushing this closure that "mailers are offering 'convenience fees' to receive a paper bill"

The only mailers offering such, are the credit card companies, and Flo from Progressive.  

And can you mutherluving imagine...they are incentivizing you to move to the method of payment that will make them not $0.20 per item, but $5.00 per item?

Don't be hornswaggled.

Additionally:

Tulsa P&DC consistently ranks, nationally in the top 5 for efficiency and productivity.  While OKC consistenly ranks nationally in the bottom 5 for efficiency and productivity.

So yeh, seems like a smart move to close Tulsa and move it to OKC.

No one ever said the USPS was smart.  I worked for a company for almost 9 years who did bulk mail.  USPS tried to spirit me away to work for them after I aced my civil service exam (which wasn't really all that difficult to do).  After I heard horror stories from other postal workers, I said no thanks.

[TheMindWillNotLetGo]

No one ever said the USPS was smart.  I worked for a company for almost 9 years who did bulk mail.  USPS tried to spirit me away to work for them after I aced my civil service exam (which wasn't really all that difficult to do).  After I heard horror stories from other postal workers, I said no thanks.

My last line there was meant to be sardonic...I suppose either way, there is some talk of conspiracy around this, if you're into that kind of thing.

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